When and Where:

Records:

Results:

Top performers:

• Esposito led the Golden Eagles with 21 points (6-8 FG, 9-10 FT), adding nine rebounds, one assist, and one block.
• Kenny Rodriguez recorded a double-double with 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-7 3PT), 10 rebounds, and one assist.
• Anthony Todd contributed 16 points (4-9 FG, 8-10 FT) and 7 rebounds and two assists
• TayShaun Hawkins added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

How it happened:

• St. Joseph's came out firing, opening the game on a 11-2 run in the first four minutes to grab an early 15-7 lead, with Rodriguez providing seven of the team's 15 points.
• Merchant Marine responded quickly with a 12-5 run to trim the deficit to one point, showing early resilience at home.
• The end of the first half was a back and forth battle but SJLI held on to a slight lead before the game was tied at 34 with 1:38 left in the first half; The Golden Eagles ended the half with a five point advantage (39-34)
• The Mariners looked to even the odds in the beginning of the second half as they held St. Joseph's to just one made field goal in the first four minutes of play in the second half to tie the game up at 42
• St. Joseph's would go up by as much as nine points just before the midway point in the second half as the Mariners cut the lead again to just four with 10:22 left in the game
• SJLI would go on a 8-0 scoring run over the next four minutes of play to take control of the game with a 12 point lead with just over five minutes left 
• As the Golden Eagles looked to put the game away with an Esposito layup with just under two minutes left and a 13 point lead (73-60); USMMA would answer with a 15-2 scoring burst with back-to-back threes from Jack Flannery and Mason Lavergne
• As Lavergne hit two free throws, one to tie the game and one to pull ahead by one, Merchant Marine Academy held its first lead of the game since the opening minutes of the game with 22 seconds remaining in the game
• After coming out of a timeout the Golden Eagles were able to pull ahead by one as Hawkins provided an off-ball screen under the basket to free up Esposito to hit the game winning layup with just one second remaining off the feed from Todd
• The Golden Eagles held on for a much needed victory claiming a 77-76 victory over USMMA

Notes:

• St. Joseph's shot 42.4% from the field (25-59) and 75.0% from the free-throw line (21-28). They dominated the glass 45-30 (11 offensive rebounds).
• Merchant Marine connected on 13 three-pointers (35.1% from deep)
• SJLI forced only 5 turnovers but won thanks to clutch execution and interior dominance in the final possession.

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